OEM vs. Aftermarket
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER (OEM)
vs.
AFTERMARKET
When searching for a replacement lamp one of the initial decisions a consumer must make is whether to purchase a lamp that is OEM or one that is an Aftermarket lamp. Pricing of Aftermarket lamps are generally lower than OEM lamps but the consumer must be careful not to sacrificing performance and safety for lower prices.
The mere fact that a lamp is an Aftermarket lamp does not automatically mean that it is of lesser quality. There are Aftermarket manufacturers that meet the standards of original equipment manufactures and are authorized distributors. One such Aftermarket manufacturer is Diamond Lamps. You cannot purchase a replacement lamp directly from Aftermarket manufactures such as Diamond Lamps, as they are wholesalers.
Independent laboratory tests which compared some OEM vs. Aftermarket lamps have revealed that some Aftermarket lamps do not provide the light out put of OEM lamps and in some cases the brightness of those lamps was reduced between 32% and 218% - Click here for details, and the lamps may not meet other OEM specifications such as size, and attachment components. The wrong size may mean that the spacing and separation of electrical components may be compromised, and the possibility of electrical shorts and fire is possible. In addition, a wrong size lamp may require some other modification of the internal components of the projector.
Some retailers sell only the lamp and not the housing, which in some instances may require the consumer to solder an electrical connection or risk dropping or contamination of the bulb from handling. It is best to get a lamp with the housing unless you are confident about being able to install the lamp in the original housing safely. One discount retailer identified that offers lamps only without the housing to save the consumer the time and risk of installing the lamp in the original housing offers a free mail in service for installing the lamp in the housing. So if the merchant offers a bare lamp only you may want to inquire if they provide such a free service.
All in all, when considering saving a dollar buy selecting a low priced Aftermarket lamp be sure you are purchasing an lamp from a manufacturer that is an authorized distributor of the OEM projector. Ask your retailer if the Aftermarket manufacturer is OEM authorized.
